Lee McEvoy and Nathan Ojo proved themselves two of the best prospects in world boxing this week as the young Dubliners claimed prestigious World Youth Championship medals in La Nucia, Spain.
McEvoy had a particularly long journey to the medals circle. having to win four fights to ensure a bronze at the very least.
The Avona BC lightweight defeated the best Turkey has to offer as well as a fighter from the traditionally strong Azerbaijan before out pointing Puerto Rico’s Carlos Jamil De Leon Castro to claim a medal.
The talented 17-year-old wasn’t deemed as one of the major medal hopes prior to traveling to Spain but came of age on the International stage and claimed a medal in a talented packed and heavily populated weight class.
As a European Youth Championship competitor, Ojo was a name to look out for in the tournament and managed to eclipse his continental display at World level.
The fighter, who prepared for the recent Irish Championships by training alongside the Nigerian National team whilst on holiday in Nigeria this summer, strode confidently onto the podium.
‘Orange Juice’s’ quarter-final win was particularly impressive, as the Esker BC fighter dealt with going a round down and came back to win.
Mulhuddart BC’s Rebecca Kavanagh and Ballymun native TJ KIng also had impressive tournaments and got to within one win of a medal.
However, they lost out at the quarter final stage to English and Belgian opposition respectively.
European Youth Champion Bobbi Flood fell at the first hurdle, defeated by USA’s 71kg representative while lightweight prospect.
Yasmin Meredith also suffered first-round defeat as did Rebecca Collins and Gabrielle Mongan.
Ojo and McEvoy add their names to a distinguished list of Irish World Youth Championship medal winners.
Irish world professional champions Ryan Burnett, Andy Lee and Eammon Loughran all medaled in previous World Youth Championships, as did the likes of amateur sensation Joe Ward, Ray Moylette and EBU European Tommy McCarthy.
The pair also helped this team win a record number of medals eclipsing the previous tally of four won by Ray Moylette (Gold), Jamie Kavanagh (Silver), David Joe Joyce (Bronze) and Tommy McCarthy (Bronze) In Guadalajara, Mexico in 2008.
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